News Archive

Atlantic Chambers
06:55 PM  Saturday September 04, 2010

Solicitor joins Atlantic Chambers

         Lawrence McDonald
SOLICITORS are transferring to the Bar in a bid to get back to the basics of advocacy and advice, says Atlantic Chambers’ Lawrence McDonald.
The Bar Standards board accepts only around 60 applications a year from solicitors wishing to convert – last year three of the successful ones were lawyers hoping to join Liverpool chambers.
Lawrence McDonald, former head of property litigation at Brabners Chaffe Street, joined Atlantic Chambers’ Chancery and Commercial team in January.
He follows family law specialist Katie McCann, who also joined Atlantic Chambers after also leaving Brabners Chaffe Street last year.
Lawrence, who lives in Cuddington, Cheshire, said: “What most attracts me about the Bar is being able to specialise in advocacy and being able to focus on the provision of legal advice rather than the more business oriented activities that take up more of your time as you become more senior in a law firm.
“The reason I became a lawyer was because I wanted to be in court and advise people with legal problems.”
Lawrence, 36, first qualified as a barrister but was offered and accepted a position with Linklaters in the City of London, initially intending to return to being a barrister after a couple of years. However, he later moved on to positions with other law firms and eventually accepted a partnership at Brabners Chaffe Street before deciding to return to the Bar.
Lawrence added: “Life moves on – until one day you realise that if you don’t do this now, you’re never going to do it.
“It’s always been my dream to be a barrister and, having experienced both sides of the profession, it’s something I really wanted to get back to.”
Atlantic’s head of chambers Scott Donovan added: “This for us is a new thing.
“Over the last five years, we have had around five solicitors join us.
“Our position is that we will look at any high-quality applicant who wishes to make a successful career as a barrister.
“The challenges are that you’re working more on your own than in a team, but hard work and success at the Bar is rewarded by the prospect of higher earnings.”
 
» Return to News Archive